No LPT1

[Tel]

Not sure if this is the correct group, but there seem to be a lot of
knowledgable people here.

Just back from trying to sort out my neighbour's printer. It is an old
printer with no USB connection. Having downloaded the correct drivers and
installed them, the printer tried to print to a file. I looked at the
printer properties and set the printer port to LPT1, however the LPT port
simply states "local unknown port". The system is running Win 98SE, so I
right clicked on my computer | properties | device manager | ports. It
lists COM1 and COM2, but no LPT1 port.

I am after ideas on what the problem may be. How do I get the LPT port
showing and able to use?

Tel

 

[SwashBuckle]

look in the BIOS settings to see if its enabled

swash

 

[Tel]

And how exactly do I do that?

Tel

look in the BIOS settings to see if its enabled

swash

 

[Dave Weller]

after you power on the computer press the key "Del" to enter Bios settings
(for most computers). You can try F1 , F2 , F10 or ESC. You have to press
that key BEFORE the OS boots. If you see a Microsoft Logo, its too late to
enter the BIOS. Just press reset and try again.

 

[Trev]

And how exactly do I do that?

Tel

re boot and hold down the DEL key as it restart's works for the Majority of
PC's

 

[CWatters]

re boot and hold down the DEL key as it restart's works for the Majority of
PC's

Sometimes holding it down won't work.. you have to press it at just the
right moment and that can be a bit tricky.

 

[Bill]

First off, you probably don't since most computers made in the last half
dozen years are ECP by default.

But you can check to make sure you need to enter the BIOS/CMOS setup. In
Windows, right-click My Computer on your desktop and select Properties.
Then click the Hardware tab, and Device Manager button. In the new
window expand the ports and see if it lists the LPT1/Printer port as an
ECP printer port.

Sometimes holding it down won't work.. you have to press it at just the
right moment and that can be a bit tricky.

If it's the DEL or ESC key, you tap it immediately after the computer
checks the RAM when it is first powered-up. Of if it's a restart, it may
not check the RAM, so you can tap it as soon as it displays the
processor type. You may have to tap it a few times or restart again if
you're too slow to tap it before it starts to boot.

Some computers use an image instead of the typical POST routine. In that
case, just tap the key every second until it enters the BIOS/CMOS setup
screen.